What are 'Flying Kings' in checkers?

A Flying King is a crowned piece that can glide diagonally across any number of unoccupied squares in a single move, similar to a Bishop in chess. Flying kings are standard in International Draughts (10x10), Russian Shashki, Spanish Damas, Brazilian, and Czech checkers, but are strictly forbidden in standard American/English checkers where kings move only one square.

What is Turkish Dama and how does it differ from traditional checkers?

Turkish Dama (Türk Daması) is fundamentally distinct because it is played orthogonally (horizontally and vertically) across all 64 squares of an 8x8 board rather than diagonally. Men move forward, left, or right, while Kings slide like a Chess Rook across open ranks and files. Diagonal moves do not exist in Turkish Dama.

Which checkers rules does Next Checkers Move calculate?

Next Checkers Move's AI vision scanner and Minimax bitboard engine are optimized specifically for American Checkers / English Draughts (8x8 board, 12 pieces per player, forward-only pawn jumps, non-flying kings). This is the exact ruleset used on GamePigeon, 247 Checkers, Checkers.com, Coolmath Games, and FlyOrDie.

World Checkers & Draughts Rules Guide: All 9 Variants Compared

Q: What is the difference between Checkers and Draughts?

Checkers and Draughts are different names for the same family of strategy board games. 'Checkers' (or Straight Checkers) is predominantly used in North America, while 'Draughts' is the official international and British English term. Under British and American rules, the game is played on an 8x8 board with 12 pieces per player where kings step only one square.

Q: Can regular pieces jump backwards in Checkers?

In American Checkers, Italian Dama, Spanish Draughts, and Czech Dáma, normal uncrowned pieces (men) can only capture forward. However, in International Draughts (10x10), Russian Shashki, and Brazilian Checkers, normal men are legally allowed to jump and capture both forward and backward.

🎯

What Does Next Checkers Move Support?

Our real-time AI optical vision scanner and Minimax bitboard solver are designed specifically for American Checkers / English Draughts (8x8). This is the official straight checkers format played on GamePigeon (iMessage), 247 Checkers, Checkers.com, Coolmath Games, and FlyOrDie. While this page provides complete official rules for all 9 international variants, our move calculator is currently fine-tuned exclusively for 8x8 American Checkers.

Open Free 8x8 Checkers Solver →

Select a Regional Variant to Jump to Rules

American / English

International (10x10)

Czech Dáma

Master Comparison Matrix: Rules at a Glance Swipe horizontally on mobile →

Variant	Board	Pieces	Men Movement	Men Can Jump Back?	King Movement	Mandatory Majority Capture?
American / English	8x8	12 vs 12	Diagonal forward 1 step	No (Forward Only)	Diagonal 1 step (No Flying)	No (Any jump sequence)
International (FMJD)	10x10	20 vs 20	Diagonal forward 1 step	Yes (Backwards Jump)	Flying King (Any distance)	Yes (Maximum Pieces)
Russian (Shashki)	8x8	12 vs 12	Diagonal forward 1 step	Yes (Backwards Jump)	Flying King (Any distance)	No (Any valid sequence)
Turkish Dama	8x8 (All 64)	16 vs 16	Orthogonal (Fwd/Left/Right)	No (Never backward)	Flying Rook (Orthogonal)	Yes (Maximum Pieces)
Italian Dama	8x8 (Light sq)	12 vs 12	Diagonal forward 1 step	No (Forward Only)	Diagonal 1 step (No Flying)	Yes (King Hierarchy Priority)
Spanish Damas	8x8 (Light sq)	12 vs 12	Diagonal forward 1 step	No (Forward Only)	Flying King (Any distance)	Yes (Quantity + Quality)
Brazilian Checkers	8x8	12 vs 12	Diagonal forward 1 step	Yes (Backwards Jump)	Flying King (Any distance)	Yes (Maximum Pieces)
Thai Makhos	8x8	8 vs 8	Diagonal forward 1 step	No (Forward Only)	Flying King (Immediate stop)	Optional / Casual dependent
Czech Dáma	8x8	12 vs 12	Diagonal forward 1 step	No (Forward Only)	Flying King (Any distance)	King Jumps Take Precedence

American Checkers / English Draughts

Official North American & British Standard (WCDF Straight Checkers)

Supported by Our Solver 8x8 Board No Flying Kings

🏁 Board & Initial Setup

Played on an 8x8 board on the 32 dark squares. Each player controls 12 pieces placed on the first 3 ranks closest to them. The single corner square (square 4 for White, 29 for Black) is to each player's left; the double corner is to each player's right.

♟️ Moves of the Men

Men move forward diagonally one square into an unoccupied dark square. Normal pieces never move backwards under any circumstances during non-capturing moves.

👑 Moves of the King

When a man reaches the opponent's back row (the crownhead), it is crowned King. Kings can move both forward and backward diagonally, but only one square per move. Kings do not fly.

⚔️ Capturing Rules

Captures are strictly compulsory! If a jump is available, you must jump. Men can only capture forward by jumping over an opponent's adjacent piece into an empty square beyond. If multiple jumps follow, they must be completed.

💡 Platform Popularity & Tactics

American Checkers is the exact version featured in GamePigeon Checkers on iPhone, 247 Checkers, Coolmath Games, and Checkers.com. Because kings move only one square, corner traps (e.g. trapping a king in the single corner) guarantee forced wins with just two kings.

International Draughts (10x10 / Polish Draughts)

Official FMJD World Championship Standard

10x10 Board Flying Kings Majority Rule

🏁 Board & Initial Setup

Played on a large 10x10 checkerboard with 50 playable dark squares. Each player commands 20 pieces filling the first 4 rows. The bottom-left square is always dark.

♟️ Moves of the Men

Men move forward one square diagonally. However, when capturing, men are allowed to jump both forward AND backward over enemy pieces into vacant squares.

👑 Flying Kings (Long-Range Kings)

Kings can slide across any number of open diagonal squares in any direction (like a Chess Bishop). Kings can jump an enemy piece from a distance and choose any landing square along the diagonal beyond the captured piece.

⚔️ The Mandatory Majority Rule

If multiple capture options exist, the player must choose the line that captures the greatest number of pieces. Capturing 3 normal men takes absolute priority over capturing a King.

💡 Crucial Piece Removal Rule (Turkish Stroke)

Jumped pieces are not removed immediately; they stay on the board until the entire multi-jump sequence finishes. You are strictly forbidden from jumping over the same enemy piece twice in the same turn.

Russian Checkers (Shashki / Русские шашки)

The Dynamic Eastern European Classic

8x8 Board Flying Kings Promotion on the Fly

🏁 Board & Initial Setup

Played on a standard 8x8 board on 32 dark squares with 12 pieces per player. Setup mirrors American Checkers, but the gameplay is vastly more tactical and sharp.

♟️ Moves & Backward Captures

Men move diagonally forward one square, but can capture both forward and backward. If an opponent piece is behind your pawn with an empty square beyond it, you must jump it.

👑 Flying Kings (Дамка)

Crowned pieces become damkas (flying kings). They can move any distance along empty diagonals and jump from any distance, landing on any open square past the captured target.

⚔️ Compulsory Captures (No Majority Rule)

Captures are mandatory, but there is no majority rule. If you can choose between jumping 1 piece or 3 pieces, you are free to pick whichever move benefits your strategy best.

⚡ The Signature Shashki Rule: Promotion on the Fly

If a normal pawn hits the opponent's back row in the middle of a multi-jump sequence, it instantly transforms into a Flying King on that exact square and immediately continues jumping backwards or forwards as a King during the same turn!

Turkish Dama (Türk Daması)

The Orthogonal Powerhouse of the Mediterranean & Middle East

Orthogonal (No Diagonals) All 64 Squares 16 Pieces Per Side

🏁 Board & Unique Setup

Played on all 64 squares of an 8x8 grid. Each player commands 16 pieces placed on the 2nd and 3rd rows. The 1st row (back rank) is left completely empty at the start.

♟️ Men Move Like Chess Rooks

Men move orthogonally: one square forward, one square to the left, or one square to the right. Men never move diagonally and never move backward.

👑 The Dama (Flying Rook)

When a piece reaches the 8th row, it becomes a Dama. A Dama moves and captures horizontally and vertically across any distance over open squares, identical to a Chess Rook.

⚔️ Instant Piece Removal

Jumping occurs orthogonally over adjacent pieces. Critically, captured pieces are removed from the board immediately as they are jumped, instantly opening new lines for multi-jumps.

💡 Mandatory Majority & Blitz Tactics

Players must capture the maximum possible number of pieces. Due to the orthogonal capture corridors, masters frequently engineer 4-in-a-row straight wipes across ranks and files.

Italian Dama (Dama Italiana)

The Royal Social Hierarchy of Italy

Men Cannot Capture Kings Light Squares Used Strict Capture Hierarchy

🏁 Reversed Board Orientation

Played on an 8x8 board on light squares. The square at the bottom-right corner of each player is dark (the exact reverse of American Checkers). 12 pieces per player.

♟️ Moves of the Men

Men move diagonally forward one square and capture forward only. Men cannot jump backward under any circumstance.

👑 Moves of the King (Dama)

Kings can move one square in all four diagonal directions. Similar to American Checkers, Italian Kings do NOT fly.

⚔️ Royal Immunity (Signature Rule)

A regular Man can NEVER capture a King! Kings can only be jumped and captured by other Kings. A king standing in front of a normal pawn is completely immune to capture.

👑 The Four-Tier Capture Priority Rule

If multiple jumps are available: 1) You must capture the greatest number of pieces. 2) If counts are equal, you must jump with a King rather than a Man. 3) If counts are equal between Kings, you must jump the line capturing the most Kings. 4) If still equal, you must capture an enemy King first!

Spanish Draughts (Damas Españolas / Portuguese Damas)

Iberian Precision & Flying Kings

Flying Kings Forward-Only Pawn Captures Ley de la Calidad (Quality Rule)

🏁 Board Layout

Played on an 8x8 board using the 32 light squares (or with the double corner to the left). 12 pieces per player on the first three rows.

♟️ Forward-Only Pawn Jumps

Unlike Russian and International Draughts, men in Spanish Damas can ONLY jump forward. A pawn cannot jump backward even during a multi-jump sequence.

👑 Flying Kings (Damas Voadoras)

Kings are flying sliders that can glide along the entire diagonal and jump enemy pieces from any distance, stopping on any free square behind.

⚔️ The Quality Capture Rule (Ley de la Calidad)

Captures are compulsory. First, you must capture the maximum number of pieces. If two jumping lines capture the exact same number of pieces, you must choose the path that captures the highest-ranking pieces (King over Man).

💡 End of Turn Promotion

If a pawn reaches the 8th row via a jump, it only becomes a King if the jump sequence terminates on that row. If it must jump away, it remains a regular pawn.

Brazilian Checkers (Jogo de Damas Brasileiro)

International 10x10 Strategy Scaled onto an 8x8 Board

8x8 Board Flying Kings Majority Rule

🏁 International Rules on 8x8

Brazilian Checkers follows the exact rulebook of International 10x10 Draughts, adapted perfectly to a standard 8x8 board with 12 pieces per player on dark squares.

♟️ Backward Pawn Jumps

Men move forward diagonally, but can jump and capture in all four diagonal directions (forward and backward). Multiple jumps are mandatory.

👑 Flying Kings

Kings slide along any open diagonal over any distance, jumping isolated opponent pieces from afar and selecting any vacant landing square beyond.

⚔️ Majority Rule Enforced

You must legally capture the greatest quantity of enemy pieces. Capturing 2 pawns is compulsory over capturing 1 king.

💡 Passing Through Crownhead

Unlike Russian Checkers, in Brazilian Checkers if a man passes through the king row during a multi-jump and jumps back out, it does not crown unless the turn finishes on the 8th row.

Thai Draughts (Makhos / หมากฮอส)

The Rapid 8-Piece Skirmish of Southeast Asia

Only 8 Pieces Per Side Fast Open Center Immediate Stop King

🏁 8 Pieces & Open Board

Played on an 8x8 board on dark squares. Each player starts with only 8 pieces occupying the first two ranks (1 & 2 for White, 7 & 8 for Black). The four center ranks (3, 4, 5, 6) start completely empty!

♟️ Men Move & Capture Forward

Men step forward diagonally and capture forward only. Due to the open board, pieces clash into tactical encounters within the first 2 moves.

👑 King Movement

During normal movement, Kings are flying sliders and can traverse unlimited open diagonal squares across the board.

⚔️ The Immediate Stop Rule

When a King captures an opponent piece, it must land on the immediate square right behind the jumped piece. It cannot freely slide past it down the diagonal.

💡 Casual Non-Compulsory Jumps

In traditional casual Thai street games, jumps are frequently optional (no huffing). However, competitive club tournaments follow mandatory capture protocols.

Czech Dáma (Česká Dáma)

Central European Royal King Precedence

8x8 Board Flying Kings King Takes Jump Precedence

🏁 Board Layout

Standard 8x8 board on dark squares with 12 pieces per player, matching the classical American/English starting array.

♟️ Forward-Only Pawns

Men step forward diagonally by 1 square. Men can only capture forward, never backward.

👑 Flying Kings

Kings can slide across any number of open diagonal squares forward and backward, jumping enemy pieces from any distance.

⚔️ King Jump Priority (The Signature Rule)

If a player has a capture available with a King and another capture available with a regular Man, the King MUST be used to jump, regardless of the number of pieces captured!

💡 Tactical Sacrifices

Because Kings are legally forced to jump over pawns, clever players often offer a decoy pawn sacrifice to force an enemy King into a deadly trap corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Checkers & Draughts Rules

What is the difference between Checkers and Draughts?

They are different regional names for the same core game family. In the United States and Canada, the game is called Checkers (specifically American Checkers or Straight Checkers). In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, and international federations (FMJD), it is officially called Draughts.

Why can kings fly in some checkers games but not in others?

Regional historical traditions created distinct rule branches. In 16th-century continental Europe (France, Spain, Russia, Netherlands), players developed the "Flying King" (Dame volante / Damka) to speed up endgames and reward promotion. In Britain and early America, the game retained classical medieval moves where kings advance strictly one square at a time.

Is jumping mandatory in all checkers variants?

Yes! In almost every sanctioned competitive tournament worldwide (American, International, Russian, Turkish, Italian, Spanish), capturing is compulsory. If you have a legal jump, you are not permitted to make a quiet move. What differs between games is whether you must take the path with the most pieces (Majority Rule).

Can a normal pawn capture backwards?

In American Checkers, Italian Dama, Spanish Damas, and Czech Dáma, regular men can only capture forward. However, in International Draughts (10x10), Russian Checkers (Shashki), and Brazilian Checkers, men are legally entitled to jump and capture both forward and backward.

Which variant should I study if I play on iPhone GamePigeon or 247 Checkers?

You should study American Checkers / English Draughts! Both GamePigeon and 247 Checkers strictly follow 8x8 American rules with compulsory jumping, forward-only pawn captures, and 1-square kings. You can analyze any position from these games right now using our free AI checkers solver.

Master Your Next American Checkers Game

Upload a screenshot from GamePigeon, 247 Checkers, or set up any custom 8x8 position to receive instant grandmaster-grade Minimax recommendations.

Launch Best Move Calculator →